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Opel And Vauxhall Monza Concept Uses Volt’s Future Drivetrain

Even though the Frankfurt Auto Show doesn’t open its doors until mid-September, automakers are already rolling out the first official images and info of concepts that will make their debut. For GM the big news is the Monza Concept, shared by both Opel and Vauxhall, which will utilize a next-generation Voltec drivetrain, and could point the way forward for the plug-in hybrid.

The 1.0 liter engine also forgoes gasoline for compressed natural gas (CNG). While popular in Europe, could be even more popular here in the U.S., the dangers of fracking be damned. No word on stats like fuel mileage or all-electric range, though the sweeping good-looks hopefully influence future Volt vehicles.

Also of note is a LED “projection technology that uses a door-to-door dashboard to display pertinent information. Drivers can customize this information to their tastes, and it looks pretty neat, though it is likely just vaporware for now. It certainly won’t contribute to the Volt’s promised price cut.

With the Monza Concept, we get one step closer to a next-generation Chevy Volt. What are your hopes for GM’s future plug-in hybrids?

“Besides the questionable tactic of naming it after a subcompact car from the malaise era, ”

This car is presented under the Opel/Vauxhall brand and thus wasn’t named after the Chevy Monza, but after the Opel Monza (The coupe version of the Opel Senator).

I think it will be sold under a different name in the US.

JamesWimberley

The takeaway for me is that the range extender is smaller than the engine it replaces. It´s seen more and more as a spare wheel, to get you home or up a mountain or to a charging station, and less as prime motive power.

Bob_Wallace

From the linked Gas2.0 article…

“The three-cylinder turbo engine is expected to replace the 1.6 liter
four-cylinder currently found in the (Opel Adam), while making as much power.”

and

” Made entirely from aluminum and said to be 20% more efficient than the
engines that it replaces, this new motor could push the Volt’s fuel
economy well into the 40s.”

Smaller, lighter, more efficient. Makes PHEVs better. At least a bit more electric range and then better fuel mileage when in gasmobile mode.

Wind Energy

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